PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Rackham (ranked 6266 p4p, 2961 weight class) and Maximus DeMarcus Meridius (ranked 717 p4p, 407 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rackham
vs
DeMarcus Meridius

186 cm
18
195
3 - 1 - 0

187 cm
18
185
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Heavy handed

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Rackham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maximus DeMarcus Meridius!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Chad Campbell and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rackham goes for a takedown attempt but DeMarcus Meridius pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rackham definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

DeMarcus Meridius tries to keep at a distance but Rackham has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rackham blocks a punch to the side of the head.
DeMarcus Meridius blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rackham connects with a nasty looking knee right to DeMarcus Meridius's face.
DeMarcus Meridius gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rackham.
A nice left hand lands by DeMarcus Meridius.
Rackham with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rackham lands a knee to the body.
Rackham unloads a knee to the mid-section.
DeMarcus Meridius goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
DeMarcus Meridius blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short body shot lands from DeMarcus Meridius as the two fighters clinch.
DeMarcus Meridius misses with a body punch.
A short body shot lands from DeMarcus Meridius as the two fighters clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
DeMarcus Meridius tries to throw a body punch but Rackham avoids it by throwing DeMarcus Meridius back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeMarcus Meridius tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rackham's elbow.
Rackham blocking some punches.
Rackham is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rackham lands a knee to the head.
DeMarcus Meridius lands an uppercut.

Rackham works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

DeMarcus Meridius looking for a guillotine here but Rackham defends easily.

DeMarcus Meridius looking for a guillotine here but Rackham defends easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

DeMarcus Meridius looking for a guillotine here but Rackham defends easily.
Rackham's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rackham is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

DeMarcus Meridius is looking for a triangle but Rackham pushes his legs off easily.

DeMarcus Meridius working for a triangle but Rackham defends it easily.

Rackham got a little sloppy there for a moment and DeMarcus Meridius has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rackham has managed to get both his arms back between DeMarcus Meridius's legs - danger averted.
Rackham postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rackham is in close to DeMarcus Meridius's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rackham with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rackham lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rackham is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rackham tries to free his leg and advance position but DeMarcus Meridius is retaining full guard.
Rackham stays in close to DeMarcus Meridius's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rackham with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rackham with a flurry of punches that miss.

DeMarcus Meridius has his foot on Rackham's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rackham works his way back into a safe position though.

DeMarcus Meridius looking for a guillotine here but Rackham defends easily.
Rackham throws a big elbow that misses.

DeMarcus Meridius looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rackham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. DeMarcus Meridius is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rackham advances position into side control!
Rackham trying to control the action but DeMarcus Meridius is working from the bottom.
Rackham cracks DeMarcus Meridius with a big right hand but DeMarcus Meridius just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
DeMarcus Meridius regains half guard.
Nice strikes from Rackham there.
Rackham thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
DeMarcus Meridius is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rackham's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rackham's back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

DeMarcus Meridius is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

DeMarcus Meridius is working for a rear naked choke. Rackham is not defending it well and DeMarcus Meridius has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Rackham refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Rackham's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Maximus DeMarcus Meridius!
After winning the bout, Maximus DeMarcus Meridius thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.